Welfare Reform on the Web (Summer 2003): Care of the Elderly - Overseas

To cope with the demands of an ageing population, Japan introduced long-term
care insurance in April 2000. The study used a nationally representative sample
to examine the impact of the new scheme on institutional dementia care. The new
insurance system was found to be effective in targeting elderly people needing
high levels of nursing care. However, there are concerns that people with behavioural
disturbances may be at risk of exclusion from the long term scheme.

STATE PROVISION DOWN, OFFSPRING'S UP: THE REVERSE SUBSTITUTION OF OLD-AGE CARE
IN SWEDEN

L. Johnasson, G. Sundstrom and L.B. Hassing

Ageing and Society, Vol. 23, 2003, p.269-280

During the 1980s and 1990s both home help and institutional care for the elderly
were cut back in Sweden. Nationally representative surveys of the provision of
care for older people living in the community enable analysis of the effects of
these cutbacks on the sources and patterns of care. It emerges that increased
inputs from families match the decline in public services. Most of this increased,
formal care has been provided by daughters, but sons have also contributed. The
changes leave an increasing number of family carers without support, whereas they
could formerly have expected to share their responsibilities with the state.